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Introduction
In the present day world, it generally acknowledges that indigenous cultural heritage of every
country is presently threatened by globalisation, rights infringements and violation, misuse,
inappropriation, and lack of respect for the traditional culture itself or for the individuals or communities
that own the cultural heritage. This phenomenon has resulted in loss and quick deterioration of cultural
heritage and has activated an international effort to safeguard and preserve the cultural heritage,
particularly the intellectual cultural heritage, which represents the creativity of the ethnic groups that
have created and applied it in their daily life, as appropriate to their environment and lifestyle, and
which clearly represents the identity of their community.
To safeguard the intellectual cultural heritage in Thailand, the Office of the National Culture
Commission (ONCC) launched the “Project on Safeguarding of the Intellectual Cultural Heritage” with
the key mission to list the intellectual cultural heritage in Thailand, which serves as the key testimony
for the nation, promotes community involvement and pride in the community’s traditional culture, and
safeguards the local, regional and national intellectual cultural heritage. In the 2009 fiscal budget, the
ONCC designated 25 items of the intellectual cultural heritage for the first time in the performing arts
and traditional craftsmanship domains. The items in the list were selected and endorsed by the
Committee of Experts appointed by the ONCC. In this regard, a book on the intellectual cultural
heritage was published to disseminate and promote the knowledge of the announced heritage-listed
performing arts and traditional craftsmanship in 2009.
The ONCC hopes that this book will promote the pride in Thailand’s intellectual cultural heritage
and contribute to the public awareness of the importance of intellectual cultural heritage designation.
It is also hoped that exchanges of knowledge and learning about the intellectual cultural heritage
designation will continue, since the process cannot be accomplished alone by the ONCC but needs
cooperation and collaboration from all relevant parties and stakeholders to ensure the success in the
safeguarding of the intellectual cultural heritage.
(Mr. Somchai Seanglai)
Secretary-General
Office of the National Culture Commission